Dr. Liliia Bespala

Biography

Liliia Bespala is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford. Her research sits at the intersection of linguistics and applied healthcare, focusing on the role of language in clinical interactions and its implications for patient care. With a background in sociolinguistics, she has examined English language variation and change in multicultural settings. For over a decade, Liliia has taught English clinical communication to medical students in Ukraine, leading her to become increasingly interested in how linguistic practices shape clinical encounters and influence patient engagement with medical advice. She is currently involved in a project funded by the European Union that investigates the linguistic aspects of managing face-threats when delivering weight loss advice in primary care. Her research employs Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis to explore how clinicians can manage sensitive aspects of advice-giving while preserving collaborative relationships. In addition to her theoretical contributions, Liliia works on applied projects that translate linguistic insights into practical communication strategies for healthcare providers. She has previously held a British Academy CARA fellowship and was a co-investigator on a National Institute for Health Research policy research programme grant. Liliia's academic career includes experience as an interpreter in politically sensitive contexts, which has further shaped her interest in communication under pressure and the ethical dimensions of language use. She is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement, focusing on enhancing healthcare communication and promoting evidence-based, linguistically informed research.

Research Interests